Risk assessment and rate of readmission within 30 days of discharge after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalized for an exacerbation are at risk of early readmission for any reason within 30 days of discharge. Understanding the frequency and risk factors related to readmission can provide valuable input for the development of readmission reduction strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, specific risk factors and the cost analysis of early readmission for any reason within 30 days after discharge of the patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective comparative case series study, 110 patients over 40 years of age who were hospitalized with AECOPD were included. The frequency of readmissions within 30 days of discharge after hospitalization for AECOPD was investigated. Those who were admitted to any hospital for any reason within 30 days after discharge were classified as the readmission group. Whereas nonhospitalized patients were defined as the nonreadmission group. Demographic, clinical, therapeutic, laboratory and financial data of the groups were evaluated. RESULT: Thirty-four (30.9%) COPD patients were readmitted during the first 30 days post index hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, the best predictors of early readmission were the low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) predicted % (FEV1%) (OR= 0.961, %95 CI 0.927-0.997 p= 0.034) and COPD diagnosis time (OR= 0.908, %95 CI 0.838-0.983 p= 0.017). Mean length of stay of the second hospitalization was longer than both the readmitted and nonreadmitted groups (8.3, 8.1 and 7.8 days respectively). While mean cost of second hospitalization was 1189$, mean cost of index hospitalization of the readmission group was 794$ and that of index hospitalization of nonreadmission group was 582$. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of readmissions within 30 days after discharge of the patients hospitalized for AECOPD are common and costly. Low FEV1 percentage and lower diagnosis time were found to be significant predictors for readmission within 30 days of the index hospitalization.